In the spring and summer of 1932, tens of thousands of unemployed World War I veterans and their families set up camp in Washington, DC.
Each carried a military service certificate. These certificates weren’t redeemable until 1945, but the Great Depression was underway, and the group — which called itself the Bonus Expeditionary Force — was demanding that the government redeem the certificates immediately, in cash.
Toward the end of July, Mayor Edward McCloskey of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, visited the B.E.F. and (perhaps inadvertently) invited the group to Johnstown in the event of an eviction. So, when President Hoover kicked the B.E.F. out of Washington a week later, Johnstown is where everyone headed, to the chagrin of Johnstown residents.
The first B.E.F. baby born at the new Johnstown location arrived on July 31. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Herendeen of Jackson, Michigan, and was named Edwarda in honor of Edward McCloskey.
(The bonus army didn’t stay long in Johnstown, though. After a few days of negotiation, Eddie McCloskey was able to convince the group to disband. The last of the army left on August 7.)
Sources:
- “HEROES: B. E. F.’s End.” Time 15 Aug. 1932.
- “Late Michigan News.” Ludington Daily News 17 Aug. 1932: 5.
- “McCloskey Disbands Bonus Army Where Hoover Failed.” Pittsburgh Press 4 Aug. 1932: 2.
- Whittle, Randy. Johnstown, Pennsylvania: 1895-1936. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2005.
Image: Bonus Marchers, National Archives